REPORT: EUROPEANS SHIFT ON AID POLICY

Europeans are hardening their hearts against aid to developing nations, European Commissioner Joao de Deus Pinheiro said Tuesday.

"Many Europeans do not feel that aid reduces poverty," he said at a news conference to publicize an EU report on aid to developing nations. "They do not believe aid can be efficient."

The report said the importance of aid as an issue to Europeans had fallen every year since 1990. "A chilliness can be observed amongst Europeans when it comes to helping developing countries," it added.

Deus Pinheiro said public opinion has influenced EU aid policy somewhat, but it is more important to publicize development programs.

"Public opinion (of aid) is largely influenced by the media," Deus Pinheiro said. As a result, the majority of Europeans saw only "catastrophe and calamity . . . action and reaction."